Posted on 12/18/2011 8:57:09 PM PST by Jim Robinson
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Just a year ago, tea party activists came roaring out of the congressional elections eager to shape the looming race for the White House.
Things have not gone as planned.
Turned off by Mitt Romney's style and evolution on several important issues, they have bounced from one candidate to another in hopes of finding a formidable alternative to the former Massachusetts governor to focus their enthusiasm.
After a series of disappointments — Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and businessman Herman Cain among them — the anti-establishment movement has settled, for now, on a favorite: former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, even though he has spent more than three decades in Washington politics.
With the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3 and tea party support fractured at best, some activists worry that the passion that defined the movement 13 months ago may become lost in the selection of the next president.
Infighting among conservative groups, a growing sense of pragmatism, and glaring weaknesses among the candidates have forced some tea party leaders to acknowledge their limits and shift their attention to Congress.
"I wish that we had coalesced behind one candidate earlier on. It's not because of the tea party movement, it's because there hasn't been that candidate out there so far that has stirred the passion — the fire in the belly," said Amy Kremer, president of the Tea Party Express. "Everybody wants to focus on presidential politics. I think we need to be focused on the Senate. That's where we really, really need to be engaged."
Lacking a presidential contender to rally behind, Kremer's organization and others have begun eyeing congressional elections that could shift the balance of power on Capitol Hill next fall regardless of the presidential race winner.
(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...
Savage claims that Newt results in an automatic win for Obumber.”
How are his listener numbers these days?
“Never thought I’d vote for someone named after a lizard.”
Technically an amphibian, if that helps. Nevertheless, an amphibian has more authenticity than a hologram though, so yeah. Newt in a heartbeat over Romney.
I don’t know how Perry is doing in Texas but the last I saw Rick and Michelle were not leading even in their own states. At least Newt is ahead in his state of Georgia. GO NEWT!
Thanks for your insight..
I’m TEA PARTY, so is my father, mother, brothers etc.
We are all behind Newt.
Welcome to the new TEA PARTY, same as the old TEA PARTY.
“Mitt happens.”
Indeed. It just has to be shaken off and the march continues.
Hey, we made it through a Sunday with no server hiccups!
John must have found the problem...good work, and thanks!
I've been waiting for the trite 2008 "fire in the belly" remarks. Regardless, whether you like his policies and philosophy on a variety of issues, Gingrich appears to be one of the few with critical thinking and communication skills driving his candidacy with any chance of winning. By comparison, most of the others are flying under the radar.
Gee, I wonder who NPR is carrying the water for? wink, wink.
Don’t fall for the twisted leftist headlines.
Read Newt’s actual position paper on:
Bringing the Courts Back Under the Constitution
http://www.newt.org/sites/newt.org/files/Courts.pdf
Read and bookmark.
“Gingrich appears to be one of the few with critical thinking and communication skills driving his candidacy with any chance of winning.”
I agree. He is an acceptable compromise.
Savage is an idiot.
YES - exactly,
lets get a national microscope on this issue, which Newt has made way for.
Newt doesn’t have a problem putting his career in the mirror of the constitution, BUT the other side does.
It’s good for his election, and even better for this country.
He guarantees Obama’s re-election if he is nominated after that comment.
I’ve been voting since Goldwater and that is hands down the most ridiculous comment I’ve heard a candidate make.
Fire in the belly in 2008? Was that a McCainism? Somehow I missed that.
Made myself mute yelling at the SOB when he said Obamao was a nice man, and he’s not a muslim, at a town hall in Minnesota. Until the day I die I will not forget that. Thought the security guys were going to arrest me. Then one of them smiled at me. LOL!
I think you’re staring at your lava lamp and not your crystal ball.
His first full name is Newton.
In my almost 62 years, I've yet to meet the perfect individual. Gingrich was a very effective Speaker and has done a lot for the conservative cause.
"Bret Baier asked Newt Gingrich what makes you most qualified to create jobs and grow the economy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=349DpnEm4Lo
No it’s not. It’s a twisted reactionary headline and nowhere close to the truth.
Read Newt’s actual position paper on overcoming the activist judiciary:
http://www.newt.org/sites/newt.org/files/Courts.pdf
Of course if everyone would listen to my point of view, this world would be a wonder place indeed!!!
Romney really exposed himself to me as being just like Schwartzennegger who caused a far bigger set-back for CA conservatives than dim bulb Gray Davis ever was.
People who say that anyone of the seven are certain to be better than Obama better review what happened to us here in CA with our historic Recall Election fiasco!
Romney doesn't plan to change hardly ANYTHING from Obama and is expecting us to "Trust him" which is exactly what I shrink from doing forever after listening to his interview today. Mike Wallace did a great job of drawing him out and letting him quarter himself.
Knewt on the other hand is running a risk of shocking voters, but Reagan said we should avoid the pastels of the moderates and boldly paint our conservative ideas in stark contrast to the status quo. (not an exact quote)
But my biggest thrill during the last debate was watching Michelle rip Romney and Gingrich with "Newt Romney" and completely annhilated the outrageous Dr. Paul as he so well deserved!!!
I still think she is one hell of a woman and would make one hell of a President because she says the way things really are and she seems to mean everything she says. She, to me should be the one that Tea Partiers should be flocking to in spite of her one or two faux pas incidents.
She, like Herman is "real people!!!"
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